Nicoya Peninsula Costa Rica Fishing

FISHING THE NICOYA PENINSULA

Nicoya Peninsula fishing encompasses a relatively large area, from Playa Naranjo inside the Gulf of Nicoya through Paquera, Tambor and Montezuma at the bottom, and then north again on the Pacific coast through Carillo, Guanamar, Samara, Garza and Nosara.

Add Puntarenas on the eastern side of the Gulf, and you have quite a few Costa Rica fishing destinations under one convenient umbrella which can be called the Nicoya Peninsula.

Nicoya Peninsula fishing falls under two categories

The inner and southern Nicoya Peninsula fishing destinations are usually put into the Central Pacific coast sportfishing category, while the others more to the north are usually classified as part of Costa Rican sportfishing’s North Pacific panorama. The peak fishing seasons occur accordingly.

Compared to other Costa Rica sportfishing destinations such as Los Sueños/Jacó, Quepos/Pez Vela, Tamarindo, Flamingo and Papagayo, to name a few, there are not as many large Costa Rica charter boats over 34ft offering Nicoya Peninsula fishing; what you will find are mainly sportfishermen, center consoles and pangas 31ft and under. Most of the captains and guides who fish the Nicoya Peninsula are local, and didn’t train as mates on boats with American captains, as did many of the specifically Costa Rican captains in the above-mentioned areas.

Superb Costa Rica charter fishing captains

But don’t sell the local Nicoya Peninsula fishing captains short! Even though they don’t have the big names or the big boats, most are excellent, skilled inshore sportfishing guides who will catch you a myriad of prize gamefish off the many islands, rocks or reefs on light tackle throughout the year.

And when the time comes for the peak bites for offshore Costa Rica fishing species such as Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado and Yellowfin Tuna, these local Nicoya Peninsula fishing guides will get you into the spread as often as anyone else.

Nicoya Peninsula Central Pacific fishing

As mentioned above, Nicoya Peninsula fishing falls into two geographical areas: Central Pacific, and North Pacific. As is the case throughout the country, all Costa Rica sportfishing species can be caught 365 days a year. The inner gulf and southernmost regions of the Nicoya Peninsula fall into the Central Pacific category. Resort towns such as Playa Naranjo, Paquera, Tambor and Montezuma are best known for inshore fishing; anglers on Costa Rica fishing charters out of these areas can catch Roosterfish, Snapper, Grouper, Jack, Dorado and Wahoo at any time.

And during the peak offshore periods common to the Central Pacific, boats that go several miles off the Nicoya Peninsula will encounter the most billfish – Blue, Black and Striped Marlin and Sailfish – between January and April; Yellowfin Tuna between June and October; and Dorado when it rains most from July through October.

Nicoya Peninsula Marlin bite peaks earlier

The northernmost Nicoya Peninsula fishing destinations of Carillo, Guanamar, Samara, Nosara and Garza on the whole follow the general North Pacific pattern, with one exception: the Black, Blue and Striped Marlin bite peaks earlier than in Guanacaste, in January, and Costa Rica sport fishing enthusiasts can catch lots of them from January through March/April.